In a bizarre incident, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted $193,000 concealed in a carton of yogurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The seizure was made possible by credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger .
According to Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, the Customs Area Controller, the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, arrived in Nigeria from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. 951.
A detailed inspection of Sarina’s luggage revealed the undeclared funds hidden inside the yogurt carton.
The intercepted cash violates the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
These laws require travellers to declare funds exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent in negotiable instruments upon arrival or departure.
Comptroller Adebisi warned that failure to comply with these regulations could result in the forfeiture of the money, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold.
The intercepted $193,000 has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The NCS has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across borders.
